Triple H Reveals AJ Styles Is Personally Choosing His Final Opponents Before Retirement in 2026

AJ Styles is preparing to close out his legendary career—and according to Triple H, he’s being very intentional about who he steps into the ring with before he calls it quits.

Speaking to ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike, Paul “Triple H” Levesque confirmed that 2026 will be AJ Styles’ final year as an in-ring performer. But Styles isn’t leaving without checking names off his personal dream list. Triple H revealed that Styles is actively working behind the scenes each week to map out his final run.

“He has a lot of goals and a lot of people — I know he’s with me every week making a list of people that he would want to face and that he wants to meet in the ring before he retires.”

That retirement tour now includes a massive showdown at the 2026 Royal Rumble, where Styles will face Gunther—and has even put his career on the line. The motivation? Gunther’s public disrespect of John Cena, whom Styles sees as a symbol of never giving up. Gunther forced Cena to quit in his last match, and that didn’t sit right with AJ.

While Triple H hopes Styles’ retirement doesn’t come too soon, he made it clear that the Phenomenal One is in full control of his final chapter—and is carefully choosing every opponent along the way.

AJ Styles isn’t just counting down to retirement. He’s building a final run on his terms—starting with Gunther and continuing with names that matter most to him.